25 Simple Ways to Romanticize Your Life Today

IT STARTED WITH TIKTOK

I love a TikTok trend. Not just any trend though, I have a high bar for my entertainment needs. I love a trend that goes deeper than a viral dance or those cringey couple’s prank videos that are clearly scripted.

I love when TikTok is, for lack of better words, ‘used for good’ to make a trend out of something that we could all easily be doing every day to make our lives just a little better.

Enter: Romanticizing Your Life.

Although my husband cringes every time “I saw this thing on TikTok…” comes out of my mouth (I mean, can you really blame him?), I feel like there’s really some value to this one! Why not find fun little ways to make your everyday, sometimes-mundane life just a little more exciting?

After all, let’s not forget the famous words of Mary Engelbreit, “Being alive IS the special occasion.” Preach, sister.

WHAT DOES ROMANTICIZING YOUR LIFE MEAN?

The value of romanticizing your life is in the simplicity. It’s not about dropping a small fortune and labeling it ‘retail therapy’ in hopes of keeping the seasonal depression (hello, winter in Utah) at bay. It’s not an aesthetic – it’s a mindset shift, allowing you to find more joy in your life.

At the root, romanticizing our lives is being genuinely present every day. It’s a mindset shift allowing you to find more joy in your life – to make something out of nothing. It’s adding a little extra *pizazz* to everyday life, ~~even when~~ especially when it’s boring.

MY LIST OF ACTIONABLE TIPS

Now that we’re all on the same page (you were probably already on the same page if you clicked on this post – what can I say, I like to ramble), let’s get into my list of actionable ways that you can start romanticizing your life TODAY.

The best part: All these things are free or super inexpensive. We love a budgeting queen!

Pull out your nicest place settings and dish-ware for dinner tonight, even if you’re just eating Ramen noodles.
Send snail mail. If you want to go all out: decorate the envelope with markers, washi tape and your fanciest handwriting for extra pizazz.
Drive over to a lookout spot and watch the sunrise or sunset.
Buy yourself flowers, just because.
Drink out of fancy glasses! I’m not a coffee, tea or alcohol drinker, but I love fun a bev (looking at you, Poppi) especially out of a special glass. Pro tip: If you don’t have any fun cups, we’re NOT going to Target, sorry. You can find unique pieces at a thrift store for CHEAP. That brings me to my next point…
Make every outing an excursion. Even if you’re just going to that humble thrift shop, we’re making an event out of it. Get dressed, put on some makeup if you want, and listen to your favorite music on the way there. Take the long route. Oh, and go by yourself – there’s something about being alone at a thrift store with the freedom to browse and let your imagination run wild for as long as you want.
Turn off overhead lights in the evenings. Use lamps and light candles – set a cozy vibe for your home.
Make a physical vision board. I’m talking poster board, glue sticks and ransom-note-style letter cut outs. Pro tip: Curate your vision board to be exactly what you want by finding photos on Pinterest & printing them out.
Bake something (someday I’ll share my favorite treat recipes with you) – bonus points if you make extra to package up with your cutest ribbon and drop off at a neighbor’s house.
Go on a hot girl walk. It’s more than a walk, okay. We’re putting on workout clothes that make us feel good & following the HGW rules: you’re only allowed to think about your goals, how you’ll achieve them, and how hot you are.
Write in a gratitude journal. I love The Five Minute Journal, but that empty notebook that’s been on your shelf for the last 5 years will work just as well!
Perfect your evening routine. I could write a whole blog post all about the beloved evening routine, but a quick search on Pinterest will have to tide you over for now;)
Listen to a podcast or music while you clean, do laundry, cook dinner – you get the idea.
On the same note – Listen to a podcast at the grocery store. I recently started doing this and it has seriously made the Saturday morning grocery store rush so much more enjoyable. But a quick PSA! We’re not getting adult-napped in 2024, girlies. Keep one earbud out so you can still be aware of your surroundings, you just can’t be too careful.
Spend time alone. Go to your favorite restaurant, go on a walk, even go to a movie by yourself!
Rearrange your furniture. Ah, a canon event for every teenage girl. What can I say, they’re on to something!
Go on a picnic. With a friend, significant other or by yourself. You can make it as ‘aesthetic’ as you want – flowers, a portable speaker and fun drinks, for example, but all you really need is a pb&j sandwich and a blanket.
Have an at-home spa day. Paint your nails, put on a face mask & even up your 7-step skincare routine to the full 15 steps – or however many we’re supposed to have now.
Read a real, paper book. I love the Kindle, but I think we could all use a break from screens. My husband & I have a ‘reading date’ almost every night, a fancy way of saying we lay in bed and read our separate books for 20 minutes before we go to sleep. Groundbreaking, I know.
Change your phone wallpaper photo, rearrange the apps, or get a new phone case. Along the same lines as rearranging furniture, something about these small changes makes it feel like you got a brand new phone!
Go on a drive with no destination in mind. Roll down the windows, listen to music, or just be alone with your thoughts.
Make your bed EVERY morning. I’m so sorry to be the one to deliver the news, but unfortunately what we’ve been hearing all these years, is in fact true. Accomplishing something first thing in the morning, no matter how small, sets the rest of the day up for success.
Give your hydration some oomph with a new water bottle or by drinking fruit-infused water.
Clean out a drawer or tackle your closet. Tidy environment, tidy mind girl! If you need spring cleaning inspo, try looking up beautifully organized pantries on Pinterest or search ‘clean with me’ on YouTube or TikTok. I swear it works!
Wash your sheets & shave your legs. The most elite combo, you cannot change my mind.

There you have it, 25 easy & actionable ways you can start making those mundane days a little more exciting…. TODAY! Not tomorrow, not Monday. Pick something and get going!

If you have any ideas to add to our list, leave a comment below and let’s help each other out! Lastly, don’t forget to save this pin so you can come back to these ideas. Happy romanticizing, girls!

Natalie
The Girl Kind